Voters approve $49.3 million in bonds for Austin schools

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Monday, February 4, 2002

Voters approve $49.3 million in bonds for Austin schools

AUSTIN (AP) - Austin school district voters have approved $49.3 million in

bonds to rid schools of mold and prevent future invasions.

The measure carried by more than 3-to-1 - 7,787, or 77 percent, for to

2,287, or23 percent, against. About 2.6 percent of the district's registered

voters turned out.

The bonds were needed to help the cash-strapped district foot the bill for

repairs, which officials said they would have had to delay if the election

had failed.

District officials say they needed the election to pay for repairs because

the state will force Austin to share $93 million of its local tax money with

poorer school districts this year. Under state law, Austin is required to

share because its school district is considered property wealthy.

With that money leaving the district and more in future years, officials had

to come up with another way to pay for removing mold, fixing leaky roofs,

improving heat and air ventilation systems, and dealing with drainage

problems at 91 schools and other district facilities.

http://www.reporternews.com/2002/texas/bond0204.html